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Ouch! That's Got To Hurt! (Augustus)
Author: Phinfilius
Date: 02-16-11 15:15
Watching from the sidelines, itching to get into the match himself, Augustus nods in agreement to something his best friend Caerwyn has just said about the Okapi École de Sorcellerie team. They both cheer when a bludger causes Jeanette to loosen her hold on the quaffle, allowing Etta to dart in and steal it away. Mason and Wiggy flank Etta in one of the many formations the team practices and working cohesively make progress in getting the quaffle within optimal scoring range again.
They are harassed by the three Congolese chasers with the two Okapi beaters sending bludgers at them. Basil and Ella are fighting back by stopping the bludgers from getting to the Hogwarts chasers when they're able and by hitting bludgers back at the opposing chasers. Gus and Caerwyn are both nearly horse from cheering loudly, with Gus more so than Caerwyn since Caerwyn got to start the match while Gus has been here from the start raising his voice in support of his friend and team. They both hoot and hollar now, clapping their hands as Basil gets in a great hit that has a bludger stopping Kasweshi from intercepting a pass between Gus's cousin and Mason.
Though Gus does not personally care for Basil Wynbourne, he can acknowledge Basil's doing well in the match and his cheering more for the team than Basil individually even if right then it was because of something Basil had done.
It's Wiggy with the quaffle again half a minute later when Hogwarts once again tries to get more points on the scoreboard. Gus groans when Antoinette once more blocks the shot. This is followed by a second and a third groan when first Mason then Wiggy again attempt goals. Célestin catches the quaffle then and speeds away with it.
Basil and Okapi beater Jean–Baptiste go after the same bludger, Basil probably to target Célestin and Jean-Baptiste probably to aim the ball at Etta who's the closest of the Hogwarts chasers to Célestin. Jean-Baptiste reaches it first so Basil changes direction to be able to stop that bludger before it reaches Jean-Baptiste's target. To do this Basil ends up skirting around first Hogwarts seeker Aleydis then Okapi seeker Mobutu. As he's doing that, Etta's stolen the quaffle from Célestin and passed it off to Mason.
Basil's so busy following the path of the bludger that he doesn't immediately notice that the general direction of the chasers has changed. He almost sees too late that he might collide with Etta and because of this he overcompensates in jerking his broom to alter course. Basil ends up close to part of the wall formed by stadium seating and before he can compensate again he crashes. This occurs near enough to where the Hogwarts team waits on the sidelines that some of them, including Gus, can clearly hear Basil telling referee Carla Plimpton he's fine to return to the match. They also hear her say in reply, "Your nose is clearly broken. With substitutions allowed, there's no need for you to stay in the match."
Basil protests, "But I'm fine to play!"
By that time Coach Batuti is there as well. She quietly says something to Basil who then starts for the platform with the coach right behind. Basil's faces is a bloody mess and Gus can only guess what else he hurt in the crash if his face looks that bad. As she brings her broom in for landing, Coach Batuti calls out, "Augustus, you're in."
Gus grabs up his broom and grins at Caerwyn who gives him a thumbs up. Gus is so happy to join the game that he nearly whoops aloud for joy.
Augustus (Gus) Hodfuffer in for Basil Wynbourne.
On The Sidelines (Hunter)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 02-16-11 16:12
Hunter cringed when Basil collided with that wall, both because it looked like a nasty crash and because just this morning in practice Hunter had gone to stop a goal shot and next thing he knew he was in a collision and ended up hitting one of the metal posts for one of the hoops. He got banged up in the collision and did a number on one shoulder when hitting that post. He'd been given a potion this morning to help with the swelling and bruising but the potion really needs a full twenty-four hours to be 100% effective so by game time today Hunter was still feeling stiff and sore. As much as he'd like to get into the match, Coach Batuti and he agree that unless all three of the other Hogwarts keepers are badly injured or otherwise unable to continue in the game, it's best Hunter sit this one out. Sitting now on one of the platform's benches, he unconsciously rubs his injured shoulder as the thoughts of this morning accident come to mind.
Jade comes and plops down on the bench beside him, using her hips to make Hunter scootch over a little. "Olive's fine." She hooks a thumb over her shoulder to where the platform meets the stands. "Emmie just let me know. Aunt Blythe is with her."
"What's the matter with her?"
"Some sort of stomach bug they think. She's been given a potion, feels much better already, and wants to be able to come to the after match party Okapi is having. How's your shoulder?"
"Sore but lots better. I can play if I have to but if Gus has to come out for some reason Daniel or Glori can go back in."
"Don't take this the wrong way but I hope you don't have to go in."
"I don... Foul!" Hunter jumps up yelling. "Did you see that?" he turns to Jade. "How can they not call a foul? He totally grabbed her broom."
Even though there's no way any of the refs could have heard Hunter from where they are versus him, head referee Hiroyuki Sasaki's whistle blows. "Blagging! Omalanga of Okapi École de Sorcellerie on Wynbourne of Hogwarts."
Jade nudges Hunter with her elbow. "Happy now?"
"I'd be happier if we had more points."
"I know but it's fine as long as they don't run up even more goals so that it won't matter whether we get the snitch."
Etta gets to take a foul shot and Jade and Hunter are on their feeting, clapping and yelling for her, but Antoinette catches the quaffle, yet again stopping Hogwarts from making a goal. With a sound between a groan and a grunt, Hunter sits back down on the bench, wishing Aleydis would hurry up and get the snitch already so the party can get started.
No Game Play Today (Alastor)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 02-16-11 18:10
Alastor sits at the back of the platform the Hogwarts team is on. He's slumped down a little with arms crossed and anyone not knowing the situation might think him thoroughly disgruntled at the score and not having yet played in the match. It is true that Alastor isn't happy about not getting time in the match nor does he like the fact that Hogwarts is down thirty points but the truth of the matter is that his possture and demeanor are from a combination of some potions wearing off and pain.
In the middle of eating a spot of lunch Alastor had a sudden, intense pain in his jaw and felt something crack. Thinking he'd just chipped a tooth, Alastor hurried to the Okapi École de Sorcellerie hospital ward to get it quickly taken care of. There was a chip but there was also a deeper crack and the nurse found an even bigger underlying problem. After consulting with Alastor's parents, who'd by then arrived to see the match, the adults decided to take care of the entire problem right then if possible. The nurse was confident she could and that Alastor wouldn't need to have anything more than a check-up once back in the UK. It did mean though that Alastor had to drink a three different potions and the nurse had to perform a few spells.
By the time the nurse was done with Alastor the match had begun. She would have preferred he stay there in hospital for the rest of the afternoon but she'd ended up letting him go about twenty minutes into the game. He joined the team on the platform, sitting in a stupor for part of it thanks to the grogginess caused by one of the potions he'd taken. As the potions have worn off, Alastor has gotten more into watching the match but as one of the potions can cause lightheadedness for several hours, he very much doubts he'll get tapped to go into the match. The pain he's experiencing is also because of the potions wearing off but he can take more of a pain killing potion in about a half hour and hopefully before then the pain won't intensify much more. The nurse assured Alastor that by this evening the pain will be totally gone.
Watching on as there's yet another interception of the quaffle, Hogwarts taking it from Okapi, Alastor is glad that if he had to miss out on playing in the match at least he didn't have to skip the trips and getting to mingle with the host team and other students from here.
(Mark) Finally
Author: Isolde
Date: 02-16-11 18:44
Just when Mark thought he wouldn't get a chance to play, Professor Batuti pulled Ella out and substituted him in. He wasted no time mounting his broom and joining the team in the sky.
The quaffle went back into play via Célestin, after Julietta's failed foul shot. Mark didn't like it one bit that Okapi had dominated the match from the very beginning. Hogwarts was supposed to be the better team, having beaten the two previous schools they'd played against. Then again, Mark had no idea if Okapi had the same record. The topic had probably come up at some point during his visit to the Congo, but he'd probably just tuned that bit out.
At any rate, the measly ten points put on the board by Hogwarts had done little to spurn them on into catching up with the opposing team. Many goal attempts had been made since then, but none had been even remotely successful.
That was all about to change, though. Mark darted for a bludger, reaching it several seconds before Jean-Baptiste could. He hit it hard in the direction of the Okapi chasers, who were flying in V formation. The trio flew so close together that it was difficult for anyone to get between them. Jean-Baptiste tried to intercept the bludger, but it struck Célestin square between her shoulder blades before he got anywhere near it.
She buckled forward over her broom and let the ball fall from her fingers. Everyone scrambled to catch the free-falling ball, and it was Mason who wound up victorious. He immediately turned around and shot ahead, with Etta and Wiggy close behind him.
Mark shifted gears and swept in to intercept a bludger when Kawanda tried to unseat Wiggy, who had just accepted a pass from Mason. Wiggy passed to Etta, who passed to Mason, and so on and so forth, such that the quaffle became a blur of red.
When Kasweshi tried to steal the ball during one of the lightning quick passes, Mark aimed a bludger his way, forcing him to pull back suddenly. It took only moments for the Hogwarts chasers to enter scoring range. Wiggy made as if to attempt a goal, but at the last second he flicked the quaffle to Etta. Etta pitched it forward and through the hoop before Antoinette could change position.
Now Hogwarts had twenty points to Okapi's forty.
Tired Of Just Watching (Marjani)
Author: Viktor Krum
Date: 02-16-11 20:01
Marjani gives her sister a sideways glance, frowning at the fact that Theodosia still hasn't sent her into the game. Dosie still can't be in a huff with her, can she? Marjani rolls her eyes at the thought and grumbles under her breath, "Fine, be a bitch." She immediately looks around to make sure no one heard her, especially Theodosia. Marjani knows it's herself she should be mad at, not her sister, but she can't help it. Not when that sister is what's standing between whether Marjani gets to play or not.
If anyone should have started this match, it's Marjani. This is her old school. She was once on the Okapi team and has played with those that were on the team when she was still a student here. That could work to Hogwarts's advantage. But noooooo. After announcing the starting line-up Theodosia told Marjani she wasn't picked because she hadn't been playing her best in the couple of weeks leading up to the announcement. Marjani could understand that she guesses even if she didn't like it. Dosie was being professional plus she is doing her best not to show favoritism by playing Marjani more than others.
The real problem came just after the Okapi team practiced this morning. Marjani was supposed to be on her way to get some lunch but instead was flirting with Jean–Baptiste Mapon. When Marjani had been a student here she'd really, really, really like Jean-Baptiste but at the time he had hardly noticed her. Since the Hogwarts team has been here for the match, Jean-Baptiste has not only noticed Marjani but has sought her out. Marjani really can't understand why Dosie got in a huff with her when she came across Marjani and Jean-Baptiste making out. Or maybe it wasn't that they were making out so much as Marjani was supposed to be eating something before having to get ready for the match. Jean-Baptiste had wisely left to go on into eat. And okay, maybe it was Marjani who'd gotten snippy with Dosie first, angry that she'd had to stop kissing Jean-Baptiste. And so what if she's been torn between some of the guys from Hogwarts? It's not as if a single one of them has officially become her boyfriend.
"Marjani! Go in for Etta." Dosie's voice cuts through Marjani's thoughts.
Grabbing up her broom, Marjani refrains from saying aloud, "It's about bloody time."
She joins Wiggy and Mason on the pitch in time just as Mason is stealing the quaffle from Célestin. Marjani blinks, wondering how she missed the changeover in possession. Last she knew, Hogwarts had had it. Okapi had had it after Etta scored that second goal but Wiggy intercept a bad, bad pass between Jeannette and Kasweshi.
No time to think about that now though or what she'd somehow missed seeing. Mason races away from Célestin, quaffle tucked under his arm. Marjani shoots across the pitch at an angle, then comes around, steering her broom with her legs so that she can bring both arms up to catch the pass Mason sends her. Quaffle now in hand, she curves around to better line up for a shot through the hoop on Antoinette's left, which is Marjani's right. Used to be that Antoinette was slower to going to her left though the way she's stopped shot after shot today Marjani figures Antoinette's been working on that. Still, in Marjani's opinion that's the best way to go with the shot.
It was a good plan but it doesn't work, not because Antoinette blocks the quaffle. It's because Marjani's aim was slightly off and the ball hits the rim and bounces back away from the hoop instead of going through it. Célestin gets the rebound so once more the action heads away from the Okapi goals towards the Hogwarts ones.
Kilkee, Ireland (Jack)
Author: Kody
Date: 02-16-11 21:01
Jack had left with the Hogwarts IQT team on Wednesday night for the Democratic Republic of Congo. He'd participated in practice on Thursday and Friday and had gone on the safari, the trek to see the highland gorillas, and the trip into Kinshasa. Jack got up this morning thinking he'd take part in practice and this afternoon be there for the match. He even thought he there was a good chance he'd get to play in the match at some point.
All that changed this morning when he'd been about to sit down for breakfast. Jack's father, Nathaniel, showed up and after speaking with the three adults there for Hogwarts, Theodosia Batuti, Rubeus Hagrid, and Blythe Green, he'd taken Jack aside to deliver some bad news. Jack's maternal grandmother was not expected to live through the day. Siobhan, Jack's mum, was already there at her own mum's bedside and Gran had been asking to see Jack.
Jack took a few minutes to say goodbye to his friends and to get his belongings from the magical RV. Wiggy and Deak are going to see to Jack's game equipment when the team returns to Hogwarts and unloads everyting. Natnaniel and Jack left Africa for Kilkee, Ireland where Jack's grandmother Naomh MacAuliffe O'Dwyer and grandfather Brock O'Dwyer live. Since then, Jack has been in several times to see his grandmother, sometimes alone, sometimes with others. All day family members have been sitting vigil, usually with two or three at Naomh's bedside at any given moment.
When noon in Ireland arrived, Jack joined a few others in the kitchen to eat a bite and got permission to turn on the match, which is being broacast on the WWN. Even though Hogwarts is down by twenty points, with the score being 20 Hogwarts, 40 Okapi École de Sorcellerie, Jack thinks it sounds like an interesting game. He wishes he could be there in person but knows he'd forever regret not being here for Gran were she to pass while the match is being played.
Jack's left a couple of times to take a turn sitting with his grandmother, returning to the kitchen each time to listen to more of the match. Two of mother's cousins come into the kitchen, talking about some sort of project they're working on together so Jack inches closer to the WWN set and adjusts the volume while munching on still warm oatmeal biscuits a neighbor just brought over, wishing fervently that if this is going to be a bad day overall for him that one good thing does happen: Hogwarts gets the snitch.
Seeking
Author: Christopher Chant
Date: 02-16-11 22:08
Christopher had gone into the match in place of Aleydis after Mark Farnon but before Marjani Batuti. He could read the frustration on Aleydis's face at the lack of seeing much of the snitch. Neither Aledis nor the other seek, Mobutu Kabango, have seen the snitch much, nor did Cornelia before Aleydis. About the same time as Christopher went into the game, the Okapi team also made a seeker change, putting in Mashako Omalanga. Christopher things both coaches are hoping that fresh eyes will make the difference.
The first thing Christopher does is fly to an altitude just above where the bulk of the action is taking place and do a quick search of the area. From this height he has an excellent view of Hogwarts driving in on Antoinette for another goal attempt. Unless he's mistaken, his team has made more goal attempts in the last hour than Okapi and while Hogwarts has only scored twenty points so far the entire match, the team's chasers making more goal attempts in the past 60 minutes means being in possession of the quaffle more and that means the other team has had it less. Having it less means few opportunities to try and score.
Christopher has just about decided on a course of action to take in searching for the snitch when he spots it. It's at nearly the same height as he is but it's halfway down the pitch from his current position. Mashako spies the snitch at about the same time as Christopher. Also at roughly the same time, the two boys realize the other has seen the snitch. Any thoughts Christopher might have had of attempting to sneak up on the winged ball fly out the window.
Mashako and Christopher both start for it, each pouring on the speed. The snitch had been flitting back and forth, sticking in the mid-pitch area but as the two seekers approach it stops the side to side movement to hover in one spot. Christopher stretches out his arm while Mashako mirrors the gesture. Almost absently, Christopher notes that the other boy's arm looks to be about the same length as his own.
They near the still hovering snitch and to onlookers it looks as though the seekers might have a massive mid-air crash if neither slows. There is indeed a collision, shoulder hitting shoulder, air rushing from lungs. Christpher feels the snitch in his hand then doesn't then does again. Mashako is saying something in French and then something in another language, both times sounding happy so Christopher takes it that the Okapi seeker believes he caught the snitch first. Christopher opens his mouth to contradict, stating HE had it first THEN lost it THEN got it back.
Mashako switches to English to argue. They bicker back and forth there in mid-air, oblivious to the bruises rapidly forming from where they hit. Head referee Hiroyuki Sasaki reaches them, rapidly determining that the only way to decide the match is to use the snitch's memory. That's the charm built into a snitch that gives the snitch a memory of who caught it. Sasaki, who's now got the snitch, hands it to Mashako. Nothing happens so he gives it to Christopher to hold. The snitch reacts, bringing a huge grin to Christopher's face.
Sasaki lifts Christopher's arm in victory and the match's announcer gives the final score. Okapi École de Sorcellerie 40, Hogwarts 170!
No play for us...(Isma and Blake)
Author: Charisma Stone
Date: 02-17-11 15:56
Blake and Isma sat in the section for their team, watching anxiously as the team battled back and forth with the Quaffle and the seekers hunting for the snitch. They were both waiting for their time to play. However, it didn't look like Isma would be going in for Seeker, instead Christopher went in after the Vanderbilt sisters had had their turns in the game.
The game had not started out in favor of Hogwarts, in fact, they were still loosing by twenty points. Unfortunately, it was now getting to the point that Hogwarts -needed- to catch the snitch if they were going to win the match, unless they managed to tie the score and then it truly became a matter of which team caught the snitch.
Blake shifted next to Isma and whispered in her ear. "I think Christopher has an eye on the snitch." He said, having watched Isma practice over and over hunting for the glimmering golden ball. They and the rest of the Hogwarts team watched as Christopher attempted to gain hold of the glimmering golden ball. Missing it, and then the pair of seekers went at it again to see which team would catch the snitch.